The Perfect Assistant (2008)

****SPOILERS****Obsession is a bitch and administrative assistant Rachel Partson, Josie Davis, learns that the hard way in her trying to win over her boss David Wescott, Chris Potter, after she found out that his wife Carol played as a corpse not a real life human being by Jennifer Marcil, in a non-speaking role, was suffering from a food or drug induced stroke. Seeing her big chance Rachel sneaks into the emergency ward without anyone there bothering to notice her, they may well have been on their coffee brake, and pops a needly in her arm causing an air bubble to end up killing her.Now working to get David to fall in love with her Rachael gets very friendly with his 10 year old daughter Isabella, Veronique-Natale Szalankiewice, as well as makes sure that he wins the very lucrative Price Account by sabotaging David's rival for it, by blackmailing him, Grady Bransen,Ian M. Watson, in him being forced to drop it. Still as hard as Rachael tries to get David to fall in love and marry her she falls flat on both her a** as well as face. David you see is still in love and loyal to his dear departed wife Carol the very woman that Rachael murdered to be have him hook up with her.***SPOILERS*** David now realizing that he has a nut-Rachael-on his hands fires her just to keep her out of his hair which is a lot for a man his-in his middle 40's- age as well as life but it backfires badly on him. Rachael not taking the hint, that David doesn't love her, feel that being fired will make things much easier for him to marry her by her just being a stranger not an employee of his: You go figure that one out! This insanity on Rachael's part came to a bitter end with her crashing a party that David is throwing for his employees and gunning down but not killing his new assistant Mary-Beth, Sophie Gendron, in the wild free for all. Rachael convicted of murder not just of Carol but her live in roommate Nora, Deborah Pollitt, who was about to expose her wild fantasies to both the police as well as David. That as well as assault with intent to kill Rachael will have lots of time behind bars to reflect on the insanities that she had inflicted on those around her.

Secretary Rachel Partson will do anything for her boss, but it's her obsessive infatuation that truly controls her. This pretty-good LMN movie serves as a cautionary tale on the dangers of bending workplace boundaries. Married PR-firm exec David Westcott entrusts his assistant with the keys to his home and allows her to babysit his daughter. Little does he realize she's misread this familiarity and believes he's in love.The performances here are excellent. Josie Davis is convincingly icy as the psychopathic amanuensis. Her boss is played well by Chris Potter, who doesn't seem to realize how handsome and desirable he is until he's ambushed by a passionate kiss. My main objection to this film is that Rachel is made a killer. She's interesting enough psychologically to carry this film without resorting to homicide. Murder isn't commonplace in real life. Why must it be in film?

Perpetually perky and seemingly psycho Josie Davis (as Rachel Partson) works as a secretary for attractive executive Chris Potter (as David Wescott). "Actually, I'm his executive assistant," she corrects. Once tragically orphaned, and displaying a compulsive use of anti-bacterial hand lotion, Ms. Davis is extremely devoted to Mr. Potter. She wants to take the place of his hospitalized wife and be a mother to cute little Veronique Natale Szalankiewicz (as Isabelle). Suspicious co-stars like Rachel Hunter (as Judith) and Jason Harper (as Wally) provide fun watching but, compared to several similarly-titled "The Perfect…" cable-ready TV movies, "The Perfect Assistant" is tragically slow.**** The Perfect Assistant (2008) Douglas Jackson ~ Josie Davis, Chris Potter, Rachel Hunter, Jason Harper

If you haven't seen it already, avail yourself of the opportunity to see "The Perfect Assistant" on Lifetime. This movie combines an excellent cast with a taut and fast-paced script. Josie Davis is sparkling in this movie, and Rachel Hunter gives a solid performance. And Chris Potter's tender, nuanced performance as David Wescott may well garner an Emmy. Potter has established himself as one of the premier leading men in Lifetime TV movies. With this film, director Douglas Jackson has established himself as a leader in made-for-TV suspense. Under his able direction, the actors turn in brilliant performances and Christine Conradt's script translates beautifully onto the screen. And the climax is the most thrilling ten minutes in made-for-TV cinema. I can say confidently that this is the best Lifetime movie I've seen in years. Don't miss this one!